# Audio Processing Rules

## Overview
This code processes 30 sound files from a specified folder and combines them into a single WAV file according to the following algorithmic composition rules.

## Processing Rules

### 1. Source Material
- **Input**: Up to 30 audio files from a designated folder
- **Supported formats**: WAV, MP3, M4A, FLAC, AAC, OGG
- Files are randomly selected if more than 30 are present in the folder

### 2. Fragment Extraction
- **Fragments per file**: 3-5 segments are extracted from each audio file
- **Fragment duration**: Random length, with a maximum of 5 seconds per fragment
- **Selection method**: Random start points are chosen within each source file
- **Minimum fragment length**: 0.5 seconds

### 3. Randomization Process
- **Shuffling**: All extracted fragments are randomly reordered
- **No preservation**: Original file sequence and internal fragment order are completely randomized

### 4. Silence Insertion
- **Probability**: 1/7 chance (approximately 14.3%) after each fragment
- **Duration**: Random silence between 0.5-2.0 seconds
- **Placement**: Silence is inserted between fragments, not at the beginning or end

### 5. Output Generation
- **Format**: Single WAV file
- **Combination method**: Linear concatenation of randomized fragments with occasional silence
- **Quality**: Maintains original audio quality of source materials

## Algorithmic Composition Characteristics

This process creates an **aleatoric** (chance-based) musical composition where:
- The final arrangement is determined by random algorithms rather than compositional intent
- Each execution produces a unique result due to randomization
- The work explores the relationship between **sound, silence, and time**
- Multiple source materials are democratically combined without hierarchical preference

## Technical Implementation
- Built using Python with `pydub` library for audio processing
- Designed for Jupyter Notebook environment
- Includes error handling for various audio file formats and edge cases

Fragments of Memory

peeq